Natural resources management is making and implementing decisions to develop, maintain or protect ecosystems to meet human needs and values. The core natural resources management curriculum provides students with a broad education in the various natural resources and their related applied fields. Programs can be tailored to enhance a student's depth or breadth in a given field of interest. The program is designed for students desiring careers in resources management or in other fields requiring knowledge of resources management, students planning advanced study, as well as those wishing to be better informed citizens.

The B.S. degree has three concentrations: forestry; plant, animal, and soil sciences; and resources. The forestry concentration offers students the opportunity to focus on the multi-resource management of forests and associated ecosystems for the sustained production of goods and services and to prepare for forestry related employment.

The natural resources management/forestry program is the only accredited four-year forestry program in Alaska.

The goals of UAF's forestry program are: to produce graduates who are highly competitive in obtaining professional employment, who have the knowledge to perform well on the job and who are valued for work in Alaska and the circumpolar North; maintain close student interaction with faculty and provide opportunity for students to obtain practical professional experience as part of their education; and to prepare students for lifelong learning and responsible participation in decision making about the use of natural resources.

The university provides students with a foundation in the biological, social and physical sciences and a blend of classroom, laboratory, and field work to develop skills for a career in forestry. The forestry program leads to a professional degree in forestry. The program is accredited by the Society of American Foresters (SAF).

The plant, animal and soil sciences concentration offers opportunities for scientific study and education in areas such as: field and greenhouse plant production, domestication and propagation of native plants, revegetation, domestic and native animal production, and agricultural and ecological aspects of soil science. The resources concentration emphasizes responsible stewardship in the management of multiple resources that occur in natural systems. Field and laboratory activities and applications of knowledge gained are stressed throughout the program. Internships and work-study arrangements are often available for qualified students.

The School of Agriculture and Land Resources Management offers an M.S. degree in natural resources management. The courses and curriculum for this program were developed in cooperation with groups and agencies that work professionally with resource management in Alaska.

The M.S. program offers both thesis and non-thesis options. The thesis option is designed for those intending to pursue management careers requiring thorough familiarity with research procedures and techniques in one or more of the resources fields, to proceed to doctoral programs, and/or to conduct research in management problems. The non-thesis option is designed for those planning a management career involving largely non-research responsibilities such as general planning and administration, communication and public information, and impact assessment.

Thesis research in natural resources management is directed toward resource problems at high latitudes. Research by graduate students has centered on biological and physical aspects of land management in Alaska in relation to land ownership, land use planning, economic analysis and competing resources needs. Areas of emphasis have included forest management, land use planning, soil management, natural resource policy, parks and recreation management, horticulture and agronomy and animal science.

State and federal agencies such as the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Natural Resource Conservation Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service contribute significantly to the instructional program, by providing guest lecturers and internship and field work opportunities for students.

****** Courses other than those listed must be approved by student's advisor.

******* Must be forestry related.

******** If used to fulfill the baccalaureate core requirement for ethics/values and choices in the perspectives on the human condition, NRM 303X may not also count toward a natural resources management major. However, in this case, only 2 courses that total at least 5 credits are required from this list, exclusive of NRM 303X.

d. Complete at least 12 credits beyond those taken to fulfill categories above in a support field which is a group of courses selected for its clear pertinence to a cohesive program. Support fields may include but are not limited to: animal science, chemistry, communications, education, engineering, forestry, geography, marketing, natural resources management, nutrition, plant science, rural development and soils. The courses must be approved by the student's academic advisor prior to attaining senior standing.
5. Minimum credits required (130 credits)* The same course can not be used to satisfy requirements in both sections a and c.

b. Complete at least 9 credits from the humans and the environmental electives category. Courses involve human effects on the environment and its products through management. Substitutions may be made only with the permission of the student's academic advisor and the department head.

c. Select at least 9 credits in an approved support field. Selections may include courses listed within the humans and the environmental elective category, and need not be limited to those with NRM designators. Courses are selected for their clear pertinence to a cohesive program and must be approved by the student's academic advisor prior to attaining senior standing. Examples include but are not limited to: communications, data management, economics, marketing, recreation or resources policy. Support fields may also include subject areas in forest and plant, animal, and soil sciences.
5. Minimum credits required (130 credits)Note: Courses required for the majors may also be used to satisfy the general university and B.S. degree requirements as appropriate.

1. Complete the general university requirements.
2. Complete the master's degree requirements.
3. Complete or have prior general familiarity with the major resource fields listed as concentrations under the B.S. degree requirements. Course requirements in any one field will depend on the needs of the candidate and the capabilities of the university.
4. Complete or have prior coursework within the program in computer science, statistical methods and basic economics.
5. Complete the thesis or non-thesis requirements: